Illprepvb.com is creating a list of Illinois boys in the classes of 2021 and 2022 who have yet to commit to a college or university and have indicated a desire to continue their volleyball careers. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of Illinois boys in the classes of 2021 and 2022 who have yet to commit to a college or university and have indicated a desire to continue their volleyball careers. The following list includes players who compete at a high level either for their high school or club teams. All high school...
Where are Illinois' top boys volleyball recruits headed? (updated 5/25)
Elijah Fleming of Bolingbrook and Sports Performance has committed to Lourdes University in Ohio. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top boys players in Illinois from the Class of 2021 and beyond who have committed to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. If you are a coach, club director or parent and know of a player who should be on this list, please contact us at Illprepvb@gmail.com.Class of 2021Josh Albers, 6-3, S, Rockford Guilford/VC United VBC, Rockford UniversityMatt Arens, 6-5,...
Presenting the 2021 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team
Glenbrook North libero Paul Wyszynski helped to lead the Spartans to an IHSA championship and a 25-0 season. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Today, we are pleased to announce the 2021 Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Boys All-State Volleyball Team, our third annual effort to honor the best boys high school volleyball players in Illinois.Coaches were invited to nominate players to the all-state team. Team members were selected based upon their accomplishments on the court and as high school student-athletes, not on any future potential or c...
Presenting the Illprepvb.com/Michio Chicago VBA 2021 'Team(s) of the Year'
Would Benet have won its fifth Class 4A title in 10 years had not the fall season been postponed and the spring season shortened by the pandemic? We'll never know, but after watching the Redwings defeat Mother McAuley, which was unbeaten at the time, and later Marist in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament finals, you would have to like their chances. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) The IHSA wouldn’t decide. There were no statewide polls to settle matters. Nobody drew straws or flipped a coin. Ask most fans and/or media, and you are u...
Recruiting 101: What you can do to help college coaches find you
Former Benet setter Ally Van Eekeren is one of hundreds of former Illinois high school stars now playing at the collegiate level. Some are discovered by coaches. But many handle their own recruiting. (Photo courtesy of Creighton Athletics) By Randy SharerSpecial to Illprepvb.comMajor life choices that come up for the first – and perhaps only – time can be challenging.Take, for example, volleyball players looking to continue their careers in college.By the time they learn the ins-and-outs of the recruiting process, they may wish they’d had...
Presenting the Illprepvb.com/Sports Performance VBC Girls H.S. Player of the Year
Rachel Muisenga led Benet to a 51-1 record during her two years as the Redwings' setter, capped by a 23-25, 25-11, 25-22 victory over Marist in the East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament championship game. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Benet's Rachel Muisenga By Matt Le CrenSpecial for Illprepvb.comThere is an aura that all great athletes project during competition.They play with a self-assuredness that ensures no challenge is too large for them to overcome, and no task too small for them to complete.For those fans who get to watch...
A look at some of Illinois' top uncommitted girls in the classes of 2021-23
Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top girls volleyball players in Illinois in the classes of 2021, 2022 and 2023 who have yet to commit to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Illprepvb.com is creating a list of the top players in Illinois in the classes of 2021, 2022 and 2023 who have yet to commit to a college or university to continue their volleyball careers. The following list includes players who compete at a very high level either for their high school or club teams. All par...
The boys are back in town, but who will wear the crown … if there's a crown to wear?
Marist won it all in 2019, and if the RedHawks are to successully defend their title (providing there is a state tournament beyond the promised regionals), it will be due in large part to 6-8 senior Nyherowo Omene (center, standing behind Marty Jepsen), the one holdover from that championship team. (Photo by Dave Ruggles). (Updated 4/23)Marist won the IHSA boys’ championship in 2019, the last time a state series was conducted, the last time a boys’ volleyball season was conducted in Illinois.Who would have won it all in 2020? We can only s...
Where are they now? A look at where 600+ Illinois girls are playing college volleyball
Emily Holbrook (8) of Joliet Catholic and Sports Performance is now playing collegiately at Arizona State. (Photos by Dave Ruggles) Illinois not only ranks third among all states in the number of girls who play high school volleyball (behind California and Texas), it is also at the top of the list for the number of its student-athletes who go on to play volleyball in college.So we asked club directors to send us their lists of alumni who are currently playing volleyball at a college or university anywhere in the country. There are nearly 50...
Presenting the Michio Chicago VBA/Illprepvb.com Coaches Hall of Fame Class of '21
Fremd's Curtis Pinley (in background, left) has a combined 50 years of coaching boys and girls volleyball at Palatine and Fremd high schools. (Photo by Dave Ruggles) Three years ago, Illprepvb.com was approached to collaborate on the creation of an Illinois High School Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.Unfortunately, nothing ever came of that phone call. But we felt then, as we do now, that the creation of a coaches’ Hall of Fame was long overdue.Last July, with input from current and former coaches, players and officials, Illprepvb.com p...